The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-09

Consequences.
We are in the midst Of winter, with un-
questioned snow drifts in the streets. A great
storm has covered the earth, extending from
New Orleans in the south to Portland in the
east ! saw it snow in Boston; | saw il snow
in New York. have been up and down the
streets, have driven through the parks, have
speeded a modest roadster along our mag
nifcent boulevards, have seen hundreds OF
boys and girls, but not one SNOWFALL have l
seen thrown, not single statue molded from
the tempting s1ass, not cave, not huge
rolly-polly gathering 70 itsHJf as 1t passed
from boyish hands along the pathway; no
tracks made by nimble feet across unbroken
fields, not a solitary slide, not a sled down
hill, not pai, Of skates, nothing, absolute
ly, which would suggest the existence OF
real weather braving boy or fair, ruddy
checked sport loving girl. Nevertheless the
boys and girls are here.
What do the young people Of to-day look
to for entertainment;
find upon inquiry and observation that
riding is one Of the fashionable amusements
of the day. We have first rate riding
schools, and have had for many years, but
about them, as about everything else, here
is fashion. For years nothing was more
common than to see filing through the
sequestered paths Of Central park, and now
and then out upon the road, classes OF young
ladies from ten TO twenty in number under
the convoy Of a riding master. That sort OF
exercise is entirely done away with In its
place we have club riding. A class OF ten or
twelve girls and class Of ten or twelve
boys, or young gentlemen | suppose they
consider themselves, attended for propriety
sake by the riding master, so out together
and have jolly good times. There can be
no objection to this; on the contrary, 1t Is
healthful, entirely decorous and most enjoy
able
Every now and then an English fad comes
into such general acceptance ns to be almost
universal. Just now the particular weak
ness is for long walks, and the girls in differ
ent sections of the city, each with its own
party, Of course, arrange to take each other
uD ct tho corners Of their several streets, as
policemen are gathered In at night or senti-
nels are taken up by relief guard, and form
ing in procession, walk, regardless OF the
weather, in sun, in rain, in snow, in wind,
up Fifth avenue to Central park and beyond
for that rnatter-not through the park, but
up the avenue by its side and back again.
They disdain male escort, affect the manly
type OF dress, wear wholesome shoes and
plant the seeds OF pulmonary trouble with
great enthusiasm.
Girls also find entertainment in matinee
attendance. If you study matinee audiences
here YOU will find that 95 per cent. Of the at
tendance is feminine. 1t is rare thing to
sec q young man at a matinee, or boy.
The mon who affect matinees are either un-
worthy Of the name or have passed the line OF
manhood. Not that gentlemen may not visit
theatres at matinees if they choose or If their
occupation is such that they can go at no
other time; but it seems out Of place, and
whether that seeming is based on common
sense or not there is a general feeling in the
community that man who goes TO matt
neo goes for some unworthy purpose. lie Is
either an idler, and an idle man is the mean
est work Of God, or masher, and if there
is ANYTHING smaller than a masher | have
yet to encounter it, and nobody understands
this moro thoroughly or better than tho
women themselves.
The girls save their money for matinee
seats. They crowd every theatre in which
pretty women are displayed upon tho stage
They visit in thronged houses OF entertain
ment in which spectacular pieces are gwen,
and after the performance promenade the
streets, Joining the great army going up
/ town and the other great army going down
town. the ceaseleSs beating Of the human
/ tide upon the shore Of endeavor and OF effort
! I look in vain foC the occupation OF the
bows and entertainment Of the young men
! | don't recall boy with hoop, boy
with sled, boy with kite in five years
a. the very least. In the skating season
thousands of boys and girls OF the poorc
+ classes so to Central park, and they arc 1aet
in cars and on the streets with their skates
slung over their arms, but skating IN Nc"
York is an exceptional occurrence some
winters we don't Lavo IN hour OF It, other
winters ws havo few days. Thus tar tuls
winter not moment.
Actually am staggered TO tell what Inc
BOYS do with themselves.
Sitting in John Stetson's box the other
night, during the performance OF " "FrlncesS
Ida. " I looked through the audience and re-
marked at the time that there were over 10y
bovs there not over 19 years OF age, all
dressed in the height OF fashion, and every
ono of them went out, as sensational wrl.cr
would say, "between every act, TOOK LIS
drink end his smoke and going out for those
cheerful purposes they actually couidn
wait until they got outside the door, but pull
inr cigarette case from ono pocket and
match from the other, passing the door
struck the match, lighted the cigarette ana
started forth upon the process OF heaithiul
depletion.
After the theatre went around TO George
Browns. where one can get an appeuAng
Welsh rarebit, good Cish OF terrapin ana
succulent pigs foot, but the hoys-bless my
/ beart-it would make you III to see them.
They absolutely troop in focks after the
theatres. Each dressed la mode, whlte 'e'
white waistcoat, pronounced shirt front,
dangling seals, lahdy dahdy manner ahd
stinking cigarettes, loud, hilarious, iInpcr'l-
nent, intrusive, obtrusive, disgusting sugges-
tions Of what the coming generation VIII DC
II, indeed, they are able to secure comins
generation at all How do our boys eno
Young men amuse themselves BY drinkDS,
by smoking. by sitting up late at night Dy
idling their time in oil manner OF extraordl'
nary avenues tc premature decay.
1t seems TO me as il, lttle by little, the
-. an far az cities are concerned, IS losing